Twas the night before Christmas

Santa Rosa, California

Mom and I drove north to spend the holidays with her sister-in-law. It didn't take long
for Mom to fall asleep in her motel bed. I figured she'd be so deep in sleep that I could
phoon on her bed without her knowing. But the corner I stood on creaked as I climbed up,
and my hopping off woke her up. I apologized, saying something like I bumped into the
wall; she said she thought there was an earthquake. I didn't explain.